What we hope ever to do with ease, we must first learn to do with diligence.
― Samuel Johnson, The Life Of Samuel Johnson, Vol. 4

And how did I know you can draw?

I know you can draw because you know how to eat. If you can hold a spoon and feed yourself, you can draw. [ tweet that here. tweet tweet.]

Please go into your bathroom and look in the mirror. You should see yourself standing there. Look at yourself in the eye, and say, “I can draw.” You may close the door if you would like privacy in this moment of declaration.

You may not believe it yet. But proclaiming intention is a good place to start.

About Pamela Hodges

My name is Pamela Hodges. I am a writer and an artist.
I write to encourage and to bring laughter. I paint cats, draw cartoons and write books for children and grown ups.

You are an artist. Yes, you are. Really.

Get the FREE illustrated, sort of a comic book, “You Are An Artist.” Believe in yourself and your ability to draw.
xo
Pamela

Allison P Adams

So inspired by your Shopify challenge. I have just written a book to help people come out of their shells and create~ hope you will take a look! I ordered your Manifesto download and look forward to seeing more of your art…LOVE that you write AND paint. I have felt quite split in my “identities” and love how you just spell it out there! “I write and I PAINT.”

Hello Allison,
I am delighted to meet you. I love your blog, your images are fun and lively.
What is the name of your book? I would love to have a look.
I think we can be more than one flavor of potato chip. We can write and paint. And we can weed gardens and clean litter boxes. We don’t have to narrow our lives when we are creative.
Hugs to you.
Pamela

Cool, that’s a great idea. I hope we’ll get to see some more drawings. We all sometimes need to be lightened up by some form of art, with all the stress and hectic, we forget to spend time savouring. I like to draw, and I will do again, but only for my own fun, I think.

Hello Nico, Art for fun is very fun. Not all art has to be for sale, or illustrate a story, or be on the cover of a book. Your art can stay in your sketchbook.
It can make you smile or it can help make someone else smile.
I will be showing more drawings too.

Kathleen,
I wonder why you stopped drawing too? Especially if you love to draw. Drawing is fun. I hope you decide to draw again.

Janelle

I think this is going to be a fun month for you! I love the little pictures. I think my struggle with drawing is that is comes very easily for people I am close to (my children). They are naturally gifted, and so I compare myself unfavourably with them (and others) and their talent. And it’s easy to say, could you draw such and such for me, please” instead of trying to do it myself.

Janelle,
Your children are naturally gifted, as you are. Somewhere you forgot the magic of a red crayon and a piece of paper. Comparing will steal your joy. Your words create strong clear images, your drawing would as well. So many unpainted masterpieces because you compared.

Yes, absolutely. I’ll stop saying “I can’t draw.” At least out loud. And when it comes up in thought, I’ll gamely dispute it. I’ll still approach the blank page with uncertain pencil, I’m sure. Drawing is a fine motor skill, and I have an ambivalent if long-standing relationship with fine motor skills, including use of the storied spoon. But I’ll remember a couple of drawings I did that actually weren’t all that bad, and remain open to learn. A friend just recently gave me a pad of high-quality drawing paper and pencils, so I’m ready!